JAKARTA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Soldiers and policemen would pursue a group of gunmen who has killed a policeman and taken hostages over 1,000 civilians in Papua province, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said here on Thursday.
The group has also attacked policemen who were in charge at a subsidiary of U.S. Freeport McMorant in Tembagapura of the province, and used more than 1,000 gold miners there as shield, the general disclosed.
"One of our personnel has been shot dead. The group has applies a hit-and-run method, using gold miners as shield. We and armed forces will jointly chase them,"Karnavian said at Jakarta metropolitan police headquarters.
However, the general also said a soft approach would also be undertaken to address the problem.
According to Police Chief in Papua province Inspector Gen. Boy Rafly Amar, the group comprises about 100 persons.
Papua province is situated in eastern Indonesia, home to separatist group of Free Papua Movement, also known as the OPM, which has been using guerrilla wars to achieve the independent goal.
Soldiers, policemen and workers of the U.S. subsidiary firm have been frequently targeted by the group, leaving dozens of casualties.
